The last Formula E race took place on the streets of New York with Manhattan in the background

“What has that got to do with Formula One?” I hear you ask. Well, the curious timing of the announcement aside, it could lead the way to substantially improving the sport.

Formula One has always been seen as the most technologically advanced motorsport and the trickle down of that technology has improved our road cars, from the complicated hybrid engines to the basic seatbelt.

It had always balanced that development with the entertainment factor, and let’s be honest, the danger too.

But in recent years, F1 has if anything, become too complicated. It’s been designed and run by engineers and in doing so, it has alienated the fans.

It was a move mainly driven mainly by the big-spending manufacturers. It hid behind the notion that F1 cars were the most innovative in the world — however, they aren’t any more.

The slow withdrawal of petrol and diesel cars has started and the shift towards electric cars has now been going on for some time.